On the remote island of Niue, northwest of New Zealand in the South Pacific, live some very special bees. Dwelling in forests free from chemicals and disease, the bees supply Niue Honey Company, a small business that cultivates the hives, harvests their honey, and helps protect the honeybees. Niue Honey now provides certified organic raw honey through environmentally restorative practices, providing jobs for the island community and a sanctuary for the bees.
Richard Duncan, CEO of Niue Honey and Co-Counder of the Pacific Bee Sanctuary, knows the honey is as special as the environment it was created in. Niue Honey is acclaimed for its quality, named best international honey and winning two gold medals at Britain’s National Honey Show, and being gifted to King Charles III by Niue’s Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Mona Ainu’u in 2025.
Global from the Start
“Niue has such a small domestic market that from day one we’ve had to think internationally,” Richard explains. With a population of 1,689 Niueans at the most recent census, Niue exported to New Zealand to support the environmental and employment goals of the company. “That means not only exporting our honey, but also finding ways to get paid that work for our buyers abroad.”
Early success in high-end retail gave the company confidence to pursue buyers globally. Scaling internationally to Australia brought challenges: navigating compliance, finding distribution partners, and ensuring smooth cross border payments to those on the island. “Selling into Australia showed us the importance of making transactions as easy as possible for retailers,” says Richard, “If payment becomes a hassle, it can stop the whole deal.”
To overcome banking barriers, Niue Honey partnered with a fintech provider that allows Australian retailers to pay in local currency into a domestic account, while funds are automatically transferred to Niue Honey’s New Zealand bank. “For retailers, it feels like they’re paying a local supplier,” Richard explains, noting that digital payments made it easier to break into new markets. “For us, it means we get cash flow quickly, without putting obstacles in front of new customers.”
Digital Payments to Cross the Ocean
Niue Honey is preparing to launch direct online sales to bring their honey to buyers worldwide. Digital payments will be central to this effort. “Through online card payments and PayPal, we can test demand in new markets and build awareness before we even secure retail partners,” says Richard. This reduces the risk of expanding and lends stability. Online sales and digital platforms allow Niue to “dip their toes” into large, faraway markets like the U.S. that would otherwise be out of reach.
Richard envisions Niue Honey on shelves and menus worldwide, channeling revenue back to Niue’s Pacific Bee Sanctuary and toward supporting regional agriculture. From supplying free honey to Niue residents to boosting the local economy to piloting initiatives to protect bees worldwide, Niue’s expansion will allow them to give even more to the community– even its smallest, six-legged members.
For Richard and the Niue Honey team, that impact is what’s most important. “If I look back in 10 years, I want to see Niue Honey known globally,” says Richard, “not just for the product, but for helping preserve bees and creating opportunities for the Pacific.”
